Mets cut catcher Tomas Nido, reinstate Omar Narvaez from 60-day IL
NEW YORK (AP) — Needing to make a tough resolution at catcher, the New York Mets lower light-hitting Tomás Nido on Monday after they reinstated fellow backstop Omar Narváez from the 60-day injured record.
Nido was designated for project in a transfer that retains catcher Francisco Álvarez within the majors. The 21-year-old rookie flourished in May and ascended to first string, profiting from constant taking part in time whereas Narváez and Nido have been on the IL.
Nido was activated May 25 however has made solely two begins since, going 1 for five with two strikeouts. He was a Gold Glove finalist final season and is signed by way of 2024 after primarily taking on the beginning job from a slumping James McCann final yr by the point the Mets entered the playoffs.
This season, nevertheless, Nido is batting a paltry .125 (7 for 56) with out an extra-base hit.
New York has seven days to commerce or launch him. Nido may be claimed by one other group — or settle for an outright project to the minors with the Mets if he clears waivers.
With the 31-year-old Narváez able to return from a strained left calf, New York may have optioned Álvarez again to Triple-A Syracuse and saved all three catchers on the 40-man roster. More possible, there was thought the Mets would possibly carry all of them within the huge leagues and provides at-bats to Álvarez at designated hitter. That would have lower into taking part in time for a number of veterans, nevertheless, together with fellow teen Mark Vientos.
Complicating the state of affairs a bit, it’s just a little unclear proper now what Nido is able to offering offensively. He’s by no means been a harmful hitter, compiling a .213 batting common and .557 OPS primarily in backup responsibility. But he was on the injured record from May 7-24 with dry eye syndrome that apparently affected his imaginative and prescient, probably explaining — at the very least partly — his dreadful begin on the plate this season.
He had plugs positioned in each eyes that assist them stay lubricated and enhance his sight. Nido is a right-handed hitter like Álvarez, although. Narváez, an All-Star in 2021 with Milwaukee, bats left-handed, making him a extra pure complement to Álvarez.
One of baseball’s highest-rated prospects when he started the season within the minors, Álvarez was anticipated to achieve extra seasoning at Triple-Some time Narváez and Nido shared taking part in time within the huge leagues.
But then Álvarez was shortly referred to as up in early April when Narváez strained his left calf in the course of the second collection of the season in Milwaukee.
Álvarez acquired off to a gradual begin, then took off in May — batting .292 with seven homers, 17 RBIs and a 1.029 OPS, together with a number of clutch swings late in video games. He is hitless in his previous 16 at-bats, however Álvarez’s uncooked energy is a component sorely wanted by the scuffling Mets as they try and generate extra runs.
His protection was mentioned to be a piece in progress when he arrived, however Álvarez has impressed behind the plate, too, incomes reward from coaches and veteran pitchers — significantly three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer — for his instincts and work ethic.
Nido signed a $3.7 million, two-year contract within the offseason. Narváez was signed to a $15 million, two-year deal as a free agent in December.
Despite a report $355 million payroll, the Mets are off to a disappointing 30-30 begin. They have been off Monday earlier than opening a three-game collection Tuesday evening in Atlanta. New York is third within the NL East, 5 1/2 video games behind the first-place Braves.
